This week: Rooney Mara deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of gothic computer hacker Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's English-language remake of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," which co-stars a very un-Bondlike Daniel Craig.
Also new is Kermit's comeback in "The Muppets," Jonah Hill in the comedy "The Sitter," Gary Oldman in the spy thriller "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," and the Blu-ray debut of the violent Japanese phenomenon "Battle Royale."
'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' (2011)
Box Office: $102 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% Fresh
Storyline: Disgraced investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is hired by a wealthy industrialist (Christopher Plummer) to solve the disappearance of a family member decades ago. Blomkvist enlists the help of unconventional researcher Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to help him find a killer of women in David Fincher's riveting remake of the Swedish film based on the popular Stieg Larsson novel.
Extras! Mara explains in detail the lengthy audition process, and how she transformed into Lisbeth Salander, in the extensive interviews included in the character dossiers.
We Say: It's impossible to look away from Fincher's mesmerizing mystery, which ups the energy level of the original and features unexpected chemistry between its oddly paired lead characters. We also dig the industrial-rock intro sequence and score by Trent Reznor.
'The Muppets'
Box Office: $89 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% Fresh
Storyline: The Muppets -- including Kermit the Frog, Fozzie, Miss Piggy and Gonzo -- have gone their separate ways, but reunite to put on a telethon to save the Muppet Theater in their first big-screen outing in 12 years. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Extras! The Wocka Wocka Value Pack, which includes the Blu-ray version, has "The Longest Blooper Reel Ever. At Least in Muppet History … We Think" and is actually fun, unlike most blooper reels.
We Say: Filled with nostalgic moments for lifelong fans and spirited musical numbers featuring human stars Amy Adams and Jason Segel, this sweet-natured, overdue welcome-back party for the Muppets is impossible to hate on.
'The Sitter'
Box Office: $30 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 22% Rotten
Storyline: This R-rated comedy stars Jonah Hill as a directionless suspended college student who, coerced into babysitting three rambunctious kids, ends up carting them around Manhattan for a debaucherous and dangerous night.
Extras! The Totally Irresponsible Edition featuring the DVD and Blu-ray contains "Totally Irresponsible Outtakes" that are worth a look if the movie tickled your funny bone.
We Say: This sporadically funny, raunchy flick -- costarring Sam Rockwell as a bizarre coke dealer -- tries unnecessarily to be earnest given its adult content, but the film does double duty as a stern birth-control reminder.
'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'
Box Office: $24 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 83% Fresh
Storyline: British Intelligence agent George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is brought out of retirement in Cold War-era London to ferret out a double agent. The film costars Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt and Mark Strong.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain interviews with the stars, director Tomas Alfredson and author John le Carré.
We Say: This slow-boil spy picture doesn't have the quick pacing of the Bond or Bourne movies, but it features class-act performances and meticulous attention to the period detail of early 1970s London.
'Battle Royale' Blu-ray
Box Office: $25 million (Japan)
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% Fresh
Storyline: In a near dystopian future, a random class of ninth graders is sent to a remote island, locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon and forced to hunt and kill each other until only one survivor is left in this 2000 Japanese action thriller.
Extras! The standalone Blu-ray debut has no extras, but "Battle Royale: The Complete Collection" has both the director's cut and theatrical cut of the original film, the sequel "Battle Royale II: Requiem," and a DVD with a documentary, rehearsal footage, press conferences and much more.
We Say: Years before "The Hunger Games" was written, this bloody and shockingly violent import about teens hunting teens stirred up controversy and was banned in several countries. It now makes its Blu-ray debut just before the similarly themed "The Hunger Games" comes out in theaters.
Also New This Week:
"Carnage"
"Disclosure" Blu-ray
"A Lonely Place to Die"
"The Ring" Blu-ray
"National Lampoon's the Legend of Awesomest Maximus"
"Striptease" Blu-ray
